VIDEO GAMES ON DEMAND WITH ANTI-PIRACY SECURITY

• US 20100298047A1
• Filed: 07/30/2010
• Published: 11/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gemelos, Steve, Petronelli, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,990,119 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 463/29
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/12 involving interaction between a plurality of game devices, e.g. transmisison or distribution systems protocols for networked virtual reality, networked games H04L29/06034
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/30 Interconnection arrangements between game servers and game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game devices; Interconnection arrangements between game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/338 using television networks
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/71 using secure communication between game devices and game servers, e.g. by encrypting game data or authenticating players
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/73 Authorising game programs or game devices, e.g. checking authenticity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/409 Data transfer via television network
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/532 using secure communication, e.g. by encryption, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/1235 with control of digital rights management [DRM]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/306 using TV related infrastructures external card used for payment with client device H04N21/4185
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25816 involving client authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; cryptographic authentication protocols H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/25875 involving end-user authentication restricting access to computer systems by authenticating users using a predetermined code G06F21/33; arrangements for secret or secure communication including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system H04L9/32; networks authentication protocols H04L63/08; authentication in wireless network security H04W12/06
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4781 Games
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/64322 IP

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer-readable media are described for the automated payment, download over a network, installation on a set-top box, and play of console and online video games by user interaction with a controller-adapted set-top box. Security measures inhibit video game piracy.

Claims

1. A set-top box (STB) device, comprising:

a network interface;

a processor; and

a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive a request to execute a video game stored at the STB device;

send an authorization request to a server via the network interface;

receive an indication of whether the STB device is authorized to access an account associated with a subscriber; and

selectively execute the video game based on the indication.

2. The STB device of claim 1, wherein the video game is stored at the memory.

3. The STB device of claim 1, wherein the video game is stored at a portable memory device coupled to the STB device.

4. The STB device of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive a purchase request for the video game; and

transmit a purchase order for the video game to the server.

5. The STB device of claim 4, wherein the memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive the video game from the server; and

store the video game at the STB device.

6. The STB device of claim 5, wherein when the subscriber is associated with the purchase order, the STB device is authorized to execute the video game.

7. The STB device of claim 5, wherein when the subscriber is different from a subscriber associated with the purchase order, the STB device is not authorized to execute the video game.

8. The STB device of claim 1, wherein the network interface is coupled to a secure network.

9. The STB device of claim 1, further comprising a database identifying video games recently played at the STB device.

10. The STB device of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises one or more stored states of one or more video games played at the STB device.

11. The STB device of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to enable the STB device to conduct a multiplayer session of the video game with at least one other STB device.

12. The STB device of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to transmit a message to the server to debit an amount from the account associated with the subscriber.

13. The STB device of claim 12, wherein the amount comprises a sale amount, a rental amount, or a pay-per-play amount.

14. The STB device of claim 1, wherein the memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive digital rights management (DRM) data associated with the video game; and

secure the video game from unauthorized access at one or more other STB devices based on the DRM data.

15. A game-on-demand server, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory comprising instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive, from a set-top box (STB) device, an authorization request to execute a video game stored at the STB device;

determine whether the STB device is authorized to access an account associated with a subscriber, wherein the video game is selectively executable at the STB device based on the determination; and

transmit the determination to the STB device.

16. The server of claim 15, wherein the memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

receive a purchase order for the video game; and

transmit the video game to the STB device.

17. The server of claim 15, wherein the memory further comprises instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to automatically prevent execution of the video game at the STB device in response to detecting an occurrence of an event.

18. The server of claim 17, wherein the event comprises an expiration of an authorization period associated with the video game.

19. A system, comprising:

a set-top box (STB) device configured to;

receive a request to execute a video game stored at the STB device;

send an authorization request to a server;

receive an indication of whether the STB device is authorized to access an account associated with a subscriber; and

selectively execute the video game based on the indication; and

a controller device configured to transmit input commands to the STB device.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the controller device comprises a video game console controller device or a remote controller device and wherein the controller device transmits the input commands to the STB device via a wireline connection, a wireless connection, an adapter communicatively disposed between the controller device and the STB device, or any combination thereof.